Tasting Notes
Vinous 98
One of the real highlights on the Left Bank, the 2005 Mouton Rothschild is a dark, potent Pauillac. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, spice and leather all take shape in the glass. The 2005 is a dense, powerful and explosive wine endowed with tremendous energy and pure power. The fruit is just starting to emerge, but Mouton remains a very tight, super-classic wine. With time in the glass, some of the natural richness and radiance of the year starts to emerge. Even so, the 2005 is still very young and closed. A few more years in bottle will only be beneficial. Impressive. Tasted two times.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045
Robert Parker 98
Technical Director/Chief Winemaker Philippe Dhalluin said this was a special year for him, because he considers it his first great vintage—he started in 2004. Deep garnet with hint of brick, the 2005 Mouton Rothschild is evolving into unabashed, flamboyant notes of Christmas cake, plum preserves, chocolate-covered cherries, eucalyptus and creme de cassis with beautifully fragrant wafts of potpourri, incense, Indian spices and cigar box. Full-bodied, the palate performs vinous pirouettes with dazzling exotic spice, floral and earthy nuances, framed by firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced.
Anticipated maturity: 2019-2055
JancisRobinson.com 17
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Harvested between 21 September and 6 October in ideal, dry weather conditions. When tasted in November 2009, Mouton exhibited beguiling aromas of menthol and Asian spices, with a massively concentrated, youthful palate (at that time, I scored it 18/20). The general view was that the bottle shown at Oeno wasn’t in perfect condition, seeming rather open-knit, developed in colour and with the oak standing out. Some fleshy dark-berry fruit and spice notes, a little overwhelmed by dominating acidity making this less pleasurable than expected. Seems to have matured more rapidly than the other first growths. (AWH)
Anticipated maturity: 2021-2040
